HARIDWAR: A pilgrimage trip turned tragic on Sunday morning when two friends from Ghaziabad drowned in the Ganga while bathing near Dudhiya Band in the Haridwar city police station area.
The deceased were identified as Brijesh Kumar Tripathi (42) and Sachin Tyagi (35), who had travelled to Haridwar with their families. According to police, Tripathi slipped into the river and was quickly swept away by the strong current. In an attempt to save him, Tyagi jumped in—but was also overpowered by the flow, leading to both men drowning.
Station House Officer Kundan Singh Rana said rescue teams, including police divers and the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF), were deployed immediately. Both bodies were recovered within a few hours.
Tyagi, who ran a garment business in Ghaziabad, and Tripathi were part of a larger group visiting the holy city for pilgrimage.
Authorities noted that many drowning incidents in Haridwar occur around the Saptrishi area, where riverbanks are particularly unsafe. Despite warning boards and repeated advisories, pilgrims often venture into deeper waters, underestimating the river’s strong currents.
In a separate incident the same day, SDRF teams recovered two bodies from the Chilla canal in Rishikesh. One of the deceased, Ayush (26) from Bihar, had reportedly drowned earlier while attempting to take a selfie. The other victim, Anil Bahuguna, was a local resident who had also drowned in a prior incident.
Officials continue to urge visitors to exercise caution and avoid entering unsafe zones along the riverbanks.
